8.15pm Ripon Tips & Betting Preview 10/07/2017

The feature of Ripon’s Monday evening card has drawn a disappointingly small field of just six chasing a first prize of just over £7,500. Read on for our runner by runner preview and expert tip.

IN SUMMARY: MAGIC CITY arrives on the back of a pair of wins, but he is still well below his peak mark, so a three pound rise for winning over slightly shorter at this track last time should not stop him. Sands Chorus and Sunglider head the dangers, particularly the former who could be suited by the small field as he is likely to get himself a soft lead under Silvestre De Sousa who is excellent from the front.

1 MULLIGATAWNY – Very consistent at this level, he was closing all the way to the line over slightly shorter at the end of June. He was slightly disappointing at Ayr on Saturday afternoon, but he was carrying a welter burden. Only a single win in his career, he is sure to run his usual honest race if turned out quickly, but others are preferred for win purposes.

2 SANDS CHORUS – Managed a great front running ride to score over this course and distance two runs ago, beaten three quarters of a length by Mulligatawny last time he was seen off the same mark. He was unable to get to the lead on that occasion, so if Silvestre De Sousa can get him on the front end, he is well capable of reversing those positions.

3 ICEFALL – Has not been seen since October and needed a couple of runs to hit his stride last season. He is usually seen over an extra quarter of a mile (won at this track in 2016 over a mile and a half) and may find a few of these a little too quick for him, even if he is rock hard fit first time this season.

4 MAGIC CITY – Arrives on a hat-trick having followed up a Wetherby victory with a win here over a little shorter last time out, holding off Mulligatawny late. Was rated as high as 102 in his pomp, so a lift of three pounds (to 85) for that win should not be enough to foil the bid. He is staying a little further as he gets older and, in his current form, is well worth another go at this trip and, as such, looks the one to beat.

5 ENERGIA FOX – Twice a winner in 2017 already, but she was very flat when last seen in June. Twice a winner on heavy ground in Brazil in her youth, the soft ground that day should not have been a problem, although the best of her UK form has come on a sounder surface. If the ground can be used as an excuse for that flop, she has a chance off of this mark. However, both wins in Brazil were left-handed, as were her wins here. Her two runs this way round at Kempton were moderate, so that is a slight concern.

6 SUNGLIDER – Twice a winner at Beverley this season, he has been a runner-up in both starts here at Ripon. He needs a little more up in the weights and in class, but he is still relatively unexposed so better could yet be coming, with those two wins the best RPR’s of his career.